mosssideblue
Well-Known Member
On current form, Navas for me, but respect your view
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City vs Chelsea pre-match thread
- Thread starter Ric
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Bravo
Sagna Otamendi Kolarov Clichy
Fernadinho Fernando
Sterling KDB Silva
Aguero
Stones is to lightweight against Costa and I think Pep will want to bring him down a peg or two after his indiscretion.
Gundogan off the bench if we're struggling. I don't think a point is a disaster but I think we'll sneak it 2-1.
I think Stones is better than most people give him credit when it comes to the physical stuff.
Lets just remember if Chelski win its just 3 points -theyve not won the title. Similarly if we win we havent won the title we both have a few more matches to play till May. Thats how I see it. Lets stop making this the title decider for goodness sake.
The momentum and confidence a team gets in winning these games is huge. If Chelsea wins, then they are 8 wins on the bounce including wins against United, Spurs and us. If we have to compete for the title, we need to stop their rhythm at our ground, rather than help it. See how many of Leicester players have talked about their win at the Etihad last season giving them the belief to go for the title.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
Watched them against Spuds. Yes they were ok but certainly not worldbeaters. If City play well and dont make any stupid mistakes at the back or GIVE them the ball in midfield then I really think we have nothing to fear. Spuds played them off the pitch for 40mints.
They didn't do too badly against us for 90 ;-)
It's Chelsea's speed on the break that worries me. There's a pattern with most of our games: Because we have most of the possession - and because we value possession over speed of passing - we end up playing everything in front of our opponents, who almost invariably end up camped out in their own half and it becomes extremely difficult for us to break them down. And our finishing has been quite wasteful lately, which doesn't help when chances are few and far between.
By contrast, when the opposition get the ball, we are often strung out high up the pitch after a sustained period of pressure. We are not in a decent, organised defensive shape. Often Otamendi will be in the opposition's half and Stones not far behind him. We might have Clichy or Kolarov as the last defender. If we give Chelsea (and Hazard and Costa) opportunities like this, then we can expect to be punished.
We need to be much faster in attack, and much more organised in defence. If we do that, we can win. But if we play like we've been playing recently we'll get beaten comfortably.
++++
(Incidentally, the Barca game was unusual for two reasons. First, we were bang up for it, much more than any other game. Second, the tables were turned: it was our opponents who had most of the possession and we were able to exploit them on the break, just like how our opponents normally exploit us.)
With two goals from right-sided corners in the last two EPL games, I think Navas, the king of the right-sided corner, has to start.
Feel like Chelsea haven't had their bad patch yet, but were coming out the other side of ours already. United, Tottenham, Everton have all looked worse for wear since they played us. Coincidence? Maybe. But I won't complain if it works on Chelsea. With Coutinho out injured, this could be the decisive month between Chelsea and City.
Feel like Chelsea haven't had their bad patch yet, but were coming out the other side of ours already. United, Tottenham, Everton have all looked worse for wear since they played us. Coincidence? Maybe. But I won't complain if it works on Chelsea. With Coutinho out injured, this could be the decisive month between Chelsea and City.
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If Chelsea lose then they won't be in any mood to have Merson tonguing them in the dressing room afterwards.Just seen Merson say on SSN that this is a game "Chelsea can afford to draw, but City must win". Why?!
Just seen Merson say on SSN that this is a game "Chelsea can afford to draw, but City must win". Why?!
Their next five games are much easier than ours, is about the only reason I can think of.
It's still a stupid comment about two teams essentially neck and neck a third way through the season.
Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
Just seen Merson say on SSN that this is a game "Chelsea can afford to draw, but City must win". Why?!
Merson: The Man with no Brain.
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